Portland Man Arrested for Child Sex Abuse Plans

A 56-year-old Portland, Oregon man has been arrested and charged with attempting to entice and travel to engage in a sexual act with minors, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

Marc David McCool, 56, was taken into custody on May 16, 2024, after traveling to a Seattle area hotel, where he allegedly intended to sexually abuse fictitious 7 and 11-year-old children. The suspect had various items reflective of his sexual interest in abusing children, including condoms, baby oil, rope, and stuffed animals.

According to records filed in the case, McCool responded to an ad posted on social media by an undercover law enforcement agent. Over six weeks of online chats, McCool allegedly described his sexual interest in children, his sexual abuse of other victims, and the types of “trophies” he kept from those prior criminal sexual acts. The suspect ultimately made arrangements to travel to Seattle to allegedly abuse two young children.

Mcool was arrested after he traveled by train and a rideshare to the meet location. He is currently facing charges of attempted enticement of a minor and traveling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor.

Attempted enticement of a minor is punishable by no less than 10 years to lifetime imprisonment, while traveling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor is punishable by up to 30 years imprisonment.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigation as part of the Seattle Police Department Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, with the case number U.S. v McCool MJ24-297.

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